Conveyer apparatus



VMay 22, 1923.

H. M. BRIGHTMAN CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed dan.` 3, 1922 mvENToR. HARRISUN M. BRIGHTMAN e ...mi

May 22. '1923. K v 1,456,28

H. M. BRIGHTMAN GONVEYER APPARATUSl Filed dan.v 3. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HARRIS nNBYp/LBRIGHTMAN 5&7@ W f May 22, E23. 1,456,218`

H. M. B RIGHTMAN CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. u

FIGHE INVENTOR.

HARRISON M. yBRrrHTIvAJH brake element. rlhis brake is controlled by virtue of the extension ofthe end of the brake band 41 between a pair of disks 42 mounted upon a brake shaft 43 and having annular series of apertures 44 through selected apertures of which pins 45 and 46 may be extended, these pins being also projected through the ends of the brake band 41 so that the latter is thus capable of adjustment for wear and stretching of the brake band 41 and is at the same time capable of shifting the brake band into and out of active position upon rotative movement of the brake shaft 43. This brake shaft 43 is mounted in a bearing 47 on the side upright 32 and is provided at its outer end with an apertured crank arm 48 as seen in Figures 8, 9 and 12. As also seen in Figure 9 a bracket arm 49 supports a pulley 50, the latter being preferably grooved to receive therearound one end portion of an endless flexible brake actuating connection 51 the latter of which is securely fastened at one point to the crank arm 48 of the brake shaft 43.

The other pair of belts 25 and 26 projecting from the driving shaft 15, extend around the pulleys 52 and 53 of a clutch control shaft 54, these pulleys`52 and 53 being engageable with the shaft 54 by virtue of clutches controlled by a clutch lever 55. As seen in Figures 8 and 9 shaft 54 is journaled across the uprights 32, 33 and 34 and is connected by gears 56 and 57, through a countershaft 58 to a driven shaft 59 having adjacent to the side uprights and 34 sprocket wheels 60 around which sprocket chains 61 extend at one end so that it is obvious that upon shifting movementl of the clutch lever 55 in one directionn pulley 52 will be engaged with shaft 54 so that the sprocket chain 60 will be moved in one direction while when the clutch lever is shifted in the opposite direction pulley 53 will be clutched with shaft 54 and the sprocket chains will be moved in the opposite direction.

The sprocket chains 61 extend along and above I-beains 62, each of which forms a trackway for a carrier 63 and it is thus obvious that Figure 1 shows an arrangement providing for the simultaneous operation of two carriers 63 in parallel relation so as to handle articles of considerable length although it is to be understood the invention is in fact complete with but a single track beam 62 and a single actuating sprocket chain 61.

To this end each carrier 63 includes a frame 64 with upper inwardly projecting stub shafts 65 (see Figure 10) at its opposite sides, supporting track engaging rollers 66 the latter of which are disposed on the lower flanges of the respective track beam 62 as shown particularly in Figure 5. lt will be noted from this ligure and from Figures 3 and 10 that each carrier has lower transverse shafts 67 at lengthwise spaced points, on which are mounted grooved pulleys 68 receiving thereover portions of a flexible hoisting connection 69, which between the pulleys 68, pass downwardly around the pulley 7 O of a fall 71 having an article engaging grapple or hook 72 as seen in Figure 2 so as to thus form article engaging and hoisting means.

ne end of the exible connection 69 eX- tends to and around one of the hoisting drums 39 of the hoist shaft 38 and the opposite end of this hoisting connection is xed as at '73 in Figures 1 and 2 to a wall or other support 74 to which one end of the track beam 62 may be fastened, and which support, or uprights 75 adjacent thereto, may serve as a mounting for sprocket wheels 76 around which the traverse chains 61 may be extended. I prefer however that these sprocket wheels 7 6 be mounted upona shaft 77 as seen in Figure 1.

At spaced points therealong, each track beam 62 has clamped thereto a bracket 78 one of which is shown in Figure 6, provided with outstanding bolts 79 in parallel vertically spaced relation to receive rollers 8O upon which the upper` and lower runs of the respective sprocket chain 61 are niovably guided. Flach bracket 78 also has at its opposite side a pivoted supporting arm 81, the pivot of which is indicated at 82. This' arm normally depends by gravity into the position shown in Figure' with its lower angular end 83 beneath the track beam 62` said lower angular end having journaled therein a concave roller 84 serving as a support for the flexible hoistingr connection 69. Each supporting member or arm 81 for the hoistingconnection 69 is thus swingable laterally out of the path of movement of the carrier 63 in order that the latter may pass freely along the lentire length of its respective track bearn 62, it being observed from Figures 3, 4 and 5 that each carrier 63 is provided with a deflecting member 85 in the nature of a side strip provided with angularly bent opposite ends 86 forwardly and rearwardly of the carrier whose function is to engage the lower free ends of the laterally swingable supporting arms 81 and shift the latter from the path of the carrier as it moves along the track beam. This shifting of the supporting arms 81 throws each thereof in turn to one side into the position shown in Figure 7, upon the pivotal connection 82 of its upper end.

Each of the carriers 63 is provided vat one side with an upstanding angular clamprl`he clutch lever controlling movement as well as the direction of movement of the flexible hoist connection 69, is secured at 89 as in Figure 9 to one` point of an endless nexible clutch controlling connection 90 extending between and around pulleys 91k and 92 and having any desired number of portions 93 depending around pulleys 494@ and 95 so as to extend downwardlyat any desired pointsin the length of the apparatus as a whole, and as seen clearly in Figure 2 inforder that by manually shifting this flexible controlling connection 90 from points near the ground, the flexible hoist connection 69 may be wound upon and unwound from the pulley 39 to respectively raise and lower the fall 71. j

lt will also be obvious that the brake control connection 51 may havefportions extending downwardly around rollers 96 and 97 as seen in Figure 2 so that from the same points from which the hoist connection is manually controlled, the brake may also be manually controlled to engageand hold the clutch control shaft 29 when both of the pulleys 27 and 28 are unclutched. The purpose of this is to avoid danger of accidental lowering of the fall 71 when the controlling clutches of the pulleys 27 and 28 are disengaged. v

1t will also be noted by reference to Figure 9 that the clutch controlling lever 55 of the pulleys 52 and 53 of the clutch control shaft 54 is securely clamped at- 98 to one point of a flexible traverse controlling connection 99 passing around pulleys 100' at respectively opposite ends of the apparatus, and having depending portions 101 extending around guide rollers 102 (see Figure 2) adjacent to the depending portions pro viding for manual control of the flexible hoist. connection 69 as well as the brake previously described. It is thus obvious that through the manual shifting of the traverse controlling connection 99, the direction of movement of the chain 61 may be readily controlled and `it is furthermore obvious that on account of this particular form of manual control it is obvious that lthe func-v tions of the apparatus may be directed by an operator standing at various points in the length of the apparatus. y

It is furthermore obvious that consider-v ing the `functions it performs and the ready manner in which it may be controlled, the apparatus as a whole is comparatively inexpensive both in first cost as well as upkeep, is capable of ready installation, and will be effective and efficient for-the purposes for which it is intended.

1 claim:

1. A conveyer apparatus including a horizontally movable elevated carrier having an article engaging member, and a flexible hoisting connection extending along the path of movement of the carrier, with which the carrier has movable engagement at spaced points and with lwhich the said article env gaging member has movable 'engagement bev Y tween the said points of engagement of said carrier, said hoisting connection y'being anchored at one end adjacent to oney end of the path of movement of the carrier, means for controlling the hoisting connection, located atl its opposite end adjacent to the opposite end of the path of movement of the carrier, including winding means for varying the effective length of the hoisting connection and a brake forl holding the/same in` adjusted position and means extending along thel path Aof movement of the carrier and manually shiftable at a! plurality of points therealong for independently controllingiaction of said winding means and said brake.

2. Aconveyer apparatus including a hori-v zontally movable carrier'having article Aengaging means movable therewith, flexible means extending along the path of movement of' the carrier for moving the same and raising and lowering the said article engaging mea-ns, and means also extending along the path of movement ofthe carrier and manually shiftable ata plurality of` points therealong for .independently controlling horizontal movement of the carrier and vertical movement of said article en-l gaging means.

3. A conveyer apparatus including a horizontallymovable carrier having varticle engaging means movable therewith, means having controlling clutches for moving said carrier and raising and lowering the saidl article engaging means, and manually actuated means for independently controlling said clutches at various points along the path of movement of the carrier. 4. A conveyer apparatus including a horizontally movable carrier having article engaging means movable therewith and vertically shiftable with respect thereto, means having controlling clutches for moving said carrier and raising and lowering the said article engaging'means, levers engaging the f said clutches, and endless flexiblecontrolling x connections to which. the saidclutch levers are connected, extending along. the path of carrier is connected, a flexible hoisting connection extending along the path of movement of the carrier and on which the article an endless movable member to which the i engaging member is supported for movement' with he carrier, clutch conti'olled means for shifting the endless carrier aetnatlng nenhei, sind hoisting connection being anchored n one end, vineens engaging the opposite ond of the hoising conneclion for manipulating the same and including a chich f-cntolled Winding duin and e hnlie, and endless iezcihl control lines having eenneesons with he clutches and with the seid brake, and exiendng elong- Jehe path of movement of ehe carrier whereby movement of the cniriei and ofthe zuticle engaging nieniheif may he manually controlled it various .points in the length of movement of the carrier. v

i 6. cenveyoi' appniatns including en elevated horizontzillj),Y movable carrier having article engaging means movable therewith and shiftahle vertically with respect thereto, means for moving said carrier, Ineens for shifing' said article engaging ineens, and manually actuated means for independenel;7 controlling'seid moving and shiftingmeans, consisingoi endless flexible controlling connecions extending along the path of movenient of Jshe carrier, said controlling connecions having their mejor portions elevated and having e plurality of depending poytiens ai spaced points in their length, JEoi the purpose described. f

f In estimony whereof I have aixed my signature. f

HARRISON M. BRIGHTMAN. 

